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Eight-try Sarries torment sorry Saints, Toulon deny Halfpenny winning return
By Peter Thompson
Saracens started their quest for a third successive European Champions Cup with a 57-13 demolition of Northampton Saints, while Leigh Halfpenny's return to Toulon ended in an agonising defeat for Scarlets.
Sarries inflicted a 55-24 thrashing on Northampton on the first day of the Premiership season and Saints were taught another brutal lesson by the defending champions in a Pool Two drubbing at Franklin's Gardens on Sunday.
The Premiership leaders had the bonus point in the bag before half-time and scored eight tries in a ruthless thrashing of Saints – who lost Wales wing George North to a knee injury – in their own backyard.
Liam Williams finished off a slick move for the opening try on the left flank and added a second in the other corner either side of an unstoppable driving maul resulting in captain Brad Barritt dotting down, before former Saint Calum Clark scored a fourth try before the break.
The holders were 29-6 up at the break and showed no mercy following the interval, tries from Vincent Koch, Mako Vunipola, Alex Lozowski and Ben Spencer rubbing salt into the Saints wounds.
Owen Farrell scored 17 points from the tee on his return from a calf strain as the much talked about duel between England hookers Dylan Hartley and Jamie George become a mere sideshow.
Halfpenny threatened to return to haunt Toulon on his return to Stade Mayol, but the Top 14 side clung on for a 21-20 Pool Five win.
There was no sign of what was to come when the three-time European champions raced into an 18-0 lead midway through the first half following tries from Eric Escande and Guilhem Guirado.
Johnny McNicholl gave Scarlets hope with a try just after the break and Halfpenny darted through a gap to go over before taking his points tally for the afternoon to 15 with a second penalty to put his side in front.
Francois Trinh-Duc edged Toulon back into the lead with a penalty and Halfpenny – deemed surplus to requirements by Toulon after three seasons in France – missed a difficult kick to win it as Toulon edged the victory.
A Dan Evans double was unable to prevent Ospreys from suffering a 26-21 home loss to Clermont Auvergne in Pool Two, while Munster drew 17-17 in the Pool Four clash at Castres.
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There is nothing particularly significant about Ireland in this regard compared to other Tier 1 nations. To look at 'strategy' for illegal play its best to see what teams push boundaries with new laws. SA have milked two tries at ruck block downs. The strategy is to charge the first few before the ball is out at about 4 seconds but pull out and put up hands in reigned apology. The referees usually allow the scum half to clear without awarding a penalty in this scenario. The problem with that being that the scrumhalf is now taking over 5 seconds through no fault of his own. Having achieved a few slow balls > 5s , the SA forward can now pick a scrum to charge dead on 5s. Now if the scrum half waits, he will concede a penalty, as we saw against Scotland. With the new rule in place, any early charge should result in an immediate penalty.
SA also got an offside block against England which was pivotal again after a couple of 'apologetic' offside aborted charges forcing England to clear slowly.
Go to commentsYep, you're not the sharpest tool in the shed are you?
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